Tanaquil Le Clerq Film at Lincoln Center Feb. 5-16

The Film Society of Lincoln Center will present Afternoon of a Faun, a documentary on the life of Tanaquil Le Clerq February 5-16. Tanaquil was a Principal Dancer at New York City Ballet until she was stricken with polio at age 27 in 1956. She was married to George Balanchine. She died in 2000. From New York City Ballet:

“Of the great ballerinas, Tanaquil Le Clercq mesmerized viewers and choreographers alike, and she was a muse to both George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She was the foremost dancer of her day until it suddenly all stopped. At age 27, she was struck down by polio and paralyzed, never to dance again.”

The trailer is compelling with dramatic interviews with Jacques d’Amboise and Arthur Mitchell; I can’t wait to see it.